Editing Meiko Scientific (section)

==Computing Surface==
The Meiko Computing Surface (sometimes retrospectively referred to as the CS-1) was a [[massively parallel]] [[supercomputer]]. The system was based on the [[Inmos]] [[transputer]] [[microprocessor]], later also using [[SPARC]] and [[Intel i860]] processors.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.textfiles.com/bitsavers/pdf/meiko/brochures/In-Sun_Computing_Surface_Brochure_1989.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209165934/http://www.textfiles.com/bitsavers/pdf/meiko/brochures/In-Sun_Computing_Surface_Brochure_1989.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-09 |url-status=live |title=Computing Surface Brochure |publisher=Meiko |year=1989}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |editor1-last=Trew |editor1-first=Arthur |editor2-last=Wilson |editor2-first=Greg |year=1991 |title=Past, Present, Parallel: A Survey of Available Parallel Computing Systems |place=New York |publisher=Springer-Verlag |isbn=0-387-19664-1}}</ref>

The Computing Surface architecture comprised multiple boards containing transputers connected together by their communications links via Meiko-designed link switch chips. A variety of different boards were produced with different transputer variants, [[random-access memory]] (RAM) capacities and peripherals.

The initial software environments provided for the Computing Surface was ''[[Occam (programming language)|Occam]] Programming System'' (OPS), Meiko's version of Inmos's D700 Transputer Development System. This was soon superseded by a [[multi-user]] version, ''MultiOPS''. Later, Meiko introduced ''Meiko Multiple Virtual Computing Surfaces'' (M²VCS), a multi-user resource management system let the processors of a Computing Surface be partitioned into several ''domains'' of different sizes. These domains were allocated by M²VCS to individual users, thus allowing several simultaneous users access to their own virtual Computing Surfaces. M²VCS was used in conjunction with either OPS or ''MeikOS'', a [[Unix-like]] single-processor [[operating system]].

In 1988, Meiko launched the In-Sun Computing Surface, which repackaged the Computing Surface into [[VMEbus]] boards (designated the MK200 series) suitable for installation in larger [[Sun-3]] or [[Sun-4]] systems. The Sun acted as ''front-end'' host system for managing the transputers, running development tools and providing mass storage. A version of M²VCS running as a [[SunOS]] [[Daemon (computing)|daemon]] named ''Sun Virtual Computing Surfaces'' (SVCS) provided access between the transputer network and the Sun host.

As the performance of the transputer became less competitive toward the end of the 1980s (the follow-on T9000 transputer being beset with delays), Meiko added the ability to supplement the transputers with Intel i860 processors. Each i860 board (MK086 or MK096) contained two i860s with up to 32&nbsp;MB of RAM each, and two T800s providing inter-processor communication. Sometimes known as the Concerto or simply the i860 Computing Surface, these systems had limited success.

Meiko also produced a SPARC processor board, the MK083, which allowed the integration of the [[SunOS]] operating system into the Computing Surface architecture, similarly to the In-Sun Computing Surface. These were usually used as front-end host processors for transputer or i860 Computing Surfaces. SVCS, or an improved version, called simply ''VCS'' was used to manage the transputer resources. Computing Surface configurations with multiple MK083 boards were also possible.

A major drawback of the Computing Surface architecture was poor [[Input/Output|I/O]] [[Bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] for general data shuffling. Although aggregate bandwidth for special case data shuffling could be very high, the general case has very poor performance relative to the compute bandwidth. This made the Meiko Computing Surface uneconomic for many applications.

===MeikOS===
{{Infobox OS
| name = MeikOS
| logo = <!-- Filename only: no wikilink, Image: or File: -->
| logo caption = 
| logo alt = 
| screenshot = <!-- Filename only: no wikilink, Image: or File: -->
| caption = 
| screenshot_alt = 
| developer = Meiko Scientific
| family = [[Unix-like]]
| working state = Discontinued
| source model = [[Closed-source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1987}}<!-- If known, add |mm|dd|df=yes -->
| discontinued = Yes
| latest release version = 3.06
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|1991}}<!-- If known, add |mm|dd|df=yes -->
| marketing target = Research
| programmed in = 
| language = English
| update model = Compile from [[source code]]
| supported platforms = [[Transputer]]
| kernel type = [[Microkernel]]
| userland = 
| ui = [[Command line interface]]
| license = 
| preceded by = [[MINIX]]
| succeeded by = 
| website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.org}} -->
| other articles = 
}}
MeikOS (also written as ''Meikos'' or ''MEiKOS'') is a [[Unix-like]] transputer [[operating system]] developed for the Computing Surface during the late 1980s.

MeikOS was derived from an early version of [[Minix]], extensively modified for the Computing Surface architecture. Unlike [[HeliOS]], another Unix-like transputer operating system, MeikOS is essentially a single-processor operating system with a distributed [[file system]]. MeikOS was intended for use with the ''Meiko Multiple Virtual Computing Surfaces'' (M²VCS) resource management software, which partitions the processors of a Computing Surface into ''domains'', manages user access to these domains, and provides inter-domain communication.

MeikOS has ''[[diskless]]'' and ''fileserver'' variants, the former running on the seat processor of an M²VCS domain, providing a [[command line]] user interface for a given user; the latter running on processors with attached [[SCSI]] hard disks, providing a remote file service (named ''Surface File System'' (SFS)) to instances of diskless MeikOS. The two can communicate via M²VCS.

MeikOS was made obsolete by the introduction of the In-Sun Computing Surface and the Meiko MK083 [[SPARC]] processor board, which allow [[SunOS]] and ''Sun Virtual Computing Surfaces'' (SVCS), later developed as ''VCS'' to take over the roles of MeikOS and M²VCS respectively. The last MeikOS release was MeikOS 3.06, in early 1991.

===CS-1 Interconnect===
This was based on the [[transputer]] link protocol. Meiko developed its own switch silicon on and European Silicon Systems, ES2 [[gate array]]. This [[application-specific integrated circuit]] (ASIC) provided static connectivity and limited dynamic connectivity and was designed by Moray McLaren.